“What matters is how you play within the structure of what you’re doing offensively and defensively, how you execute, how guys respond to game situations, those things all matter,’’ Schwartz said. “I think that if we keep our eye on those things then we’ll be successful. Last week when we lost the game it wasn’t necessarily reaction to us losing. It was that we didn’t play our best football and we need to play better.

With a 1-1 record, the Lions will welcome the New England Patriots to Ford Field on Thursday night.

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Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher the first two games was the starting offense’s inablity to find a rhythm, to get into a flow.

“It’s big, it’s big,’’ Nate Burleson said. “That was a glaring question not only by the media, but family and friends texting asking what’s going on with the offense. There’s a lot of excuses I could give, but that’s not really my thing. Let’s say this Thursday we’ll answer those questions.’’

Because it’s the preseason, Burleson and his teammates are not in panic mode.

“I’m not worried about it, it’s a a good thing if we have any miscues it happesn right now so we can clear it up before the regular season,’’ said Calvin Johnson whose status is unclear due to a bruised knee. He did not play last week which definitely had an effect on the offense.

Burleson said with or without the big guy, the offense needs to go out and put up points against the Patriots.

“We have to create some momentum. We don’t want to go scoreless going into the regular season,’’ Burleson said. “Being a good offense isnt a switch we can flip on come Day One. We have to do start doing something now.’’

Quarterback Matthew Stafford agrees.

“It’s always nice to get into a rhythm as an offense, like you said ,that’s a main stay if you can get into a good rhythm and play well that’s what we look to do every game,’’ said Stafford who is 14 of 24 for 134 yards in limited action in the first two preseason games. No touchdowns, no interceptions.

No one is happy with last week’s effort at the Cleveland Browns, but no one thinks that is what the Lions’ offense will look like in Week One against the Minnesota Vikings either.

“We just haven’t executed as well as we need to,’’ Stafford said. “Offense is about execution and we haven’t done this as well as we need to.’’

The quarterback said he thinks they’ve had a productive offseason and training camp. He has confidence in this offense.

Against the Browns, they didn’t show much because they will face them in the regular season. We might see a little more of the actual offense on Thursday when the starters are expected to play about a half.

Left guard Rob Sims simply said the offense is just where it needs to be.

“We’re just scratching the iceberg,’’ Sims said. “Obviously Calvin coming back and playing, hopefully that changes some things. We’ve had a good weeek of practice so we’re excited about this game. We’re optimistic.’’

Not panicked.

Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Read her Lions Lowdown blog at oplions.blogspot.com. Join her weekly live chat at 3 p.m. Thursdays at TheOaklandPress.com.